The baseline survey: health status and the utilization of health facilities.

The baseline survey of Oyo State Nigeria examined population size and geographic distribution of the population. Characteristics of the population by age sex education religion occupation marital status health status health service utilization child feeding habits fertility and child bearing knowledge attitude and use of family planning services are studied for rural areas in the Oyo State Nigeria project. It is necessary to have knowledge of such factors before implementing a program in order to be more acquainted with the population; to find out whether problems that are expected are related to population characteristics; to provide a background against which to measure results; and to be able to examine whether program success or failure is related to population characteristics. Selection of respondents was done by cluster sampling. Big towns and villages where hospitals or maternities existed were excluded. Evermarried females between the ages of 15 and 50 who had at least 1 child aged under 5 years of age were included. Interviewers were all female and recruited locally. Tables illustrate some highlights of the survey results. The health status of a community usually measured by health status indicators indicates the extent of health or disease in the community. Morbidity status is indicated by such factors as the proportion of children under 5 years who had diarrhea or fever 2 weeks prior to the survey. A carefully selected and calculated proxy representing the Infant Mortality Rate indicated the mortality status. Utilization of health services depends on such factors as belief in their efficacy proximity/availability policy of the institution perception of the seriousness of the disease and monetary considerations. Data is presented on the following: use of any government health services in the last year; specific uses; use of government health services for antenatal care/delivery and immunization of the youngest child.